Hammered by Galatasaray in Europe, Juventus will face a difficult challenge against Cesc Fabregas’s Como this weekend.
Separated by just one place in the Serie A table, Juventus and Como meet in Turin on Saturday with both sides chasing UEFA Champions League qualification, albeit from very different trajectories.
Juventus return home wounded after a sobering midweek collapse in Istanbul. A 5-2 defeat to Galatasaray has left their European campaign hanging by a thread, undoing what had been a steady run under Luciano Spalletti. The Bianconeri led 2-1 at halftime thanks to a Teun Koopmeiners brace, only to unravel under relentless second-half pressure. A late red card for Juan Cabal compounded the damage in what was arguably their most chaotic performance of the season.
That result followed another setback in the Derby d’Italia, where Juventus fell 3-2 to Inter despite mounting a spirited comeback after Pierre Kalulu’s dismissal. Defensive lapses at critical moments have dented their top-four push, yet they remain only a point behind fourth-placed AS Roma ahead of a pivotal clash next week.
Domestically, though, Juventus have been formidable in Turin. They are unbeaten at home in Serie A this season and have not lost a league match at the Allianz Stadium for nearly a year. That resilience could prove decisive as they seek to steady the ship.
Como, meanwhile, arrive with ambition rather than apprehension. Their 2-0 win over Juventus in October demonstrated their ability to challenge established powers, and under Cesc Fabregas they have shown tactical maturity beyond their recent promotion.
However, momentum has stalled. The Lariani are currently enduring their longest winless run of the league campaign, drawing with Atalanta and AC Milan while suffering a damaging defeat to Fiorentina. Their recent stalemate with Milan, originally slated to be played in Australia, showcased their competitive edge but also highlighted missed opportunities.
Encouragingly for the visitors, their away form has been impressive. Como have collected 19 points on the road and remain unbeaten away from home in the current calendar year. Their disciplined structure and swift transitions have made them one of the more uncomfortable travelling sides in Serie A.
The tactical narrative is compelling. Juventus are likely to dominate possession, aiming to restore confidence through controlled buildup and aggressive pressing. Como, comfortable in structured defensive blocks, will seek to exploit space behind Juventus’s advancing full-backs.
With Champions League qualification potentially limited to four spots this season due to Italy’s UEFA coefficient position, margin for error is minimal. Juventus must rediscover composure; Como must prove their European aspirations are sustainable. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Juventus
Juventus head into this fixture with defensive and attacking concerns following their midweek European setback. Gleison Bremer is a major doubt after limping off with a thigh injury against Galatasaray and could miss out if he fails to recover in time. Pierre Kalulu is suspended after his recent dismissal and is unavailable, while Emil Holm is also ruled out.
In attack, Jonathan David remains a fitness question due to a groin issue and did not travel for the midweek clash. Long-term absentees Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik continue to be sidelined, further limiting options up front. There are no additional suspension issues beyond Kalulu’s ban.
With Bremer potentially absent and Kalulu suspended, Luciano Spalletti is expected to reshuffle his defensive structure. The lack of natural centre-back depth could force a tactical adjustment, while attacking decisions may hinge on David’s fitness. Should the Canadian striker fail to recover, Juventus may deploy Weston McKennie in an advanced role or hand a rare start to Lois Openda.
Juventus are projected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Michele Di Gregorio will start in goal. The back three should consist of Federico Gatti on the right side of defence, Lloyd Kelly operating centrally, and Teun Koopmeiners potentially dropping deeper into the left-sided centre-back role if required.
In midfield, Andrea Cambiaso is expected to operate as the right wing-back, with Juan Cabal likely positioned on the left flank. Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram should form the central midfield partnership, combining ball progression with defensive protection.
Further forward, Francisco Conceicao and Kenan Yildiz are projected to play as dual attacking midfielders supporting the lone striker. Weston McKennie is the most likely candidate to lead the line if Jonathan David does not recover in time, offering physical presence and tactical flexibility in the final third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Gatti, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Cabal; Conceicao, Yildiz; McKennie
Como 1907
Como will be without one of their most influential attacking players for this trip to Turin. Nico Paz is suspended and must serve a ban, depriving Cesc Fabregas of a key creative outlet who ranks among Serie A’s top players for attempted shots this season. In addition to Paz’s suspension, Assane Diao and Edoardo Goldaniga remain sidelined through injury and are unavailable. There are no further suspension concerns beyond Paz.
Paz operated as a false nine against AC Milan in midweek, but his absence forces a reshuffle in the attacking structure. Tasos Douvikas is the most natural candidate to lead the line, though former Juventus striker Alvaro Morata is also an option should Fabregas prefer experience and link-up play. The Spanish coach briefly experimented with a back three against Milan, but a return to a more balanced back four is expected at the Allianz Stadium.
Como are projected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jean Butez will start in goal. The defensive line should consist of Ivan Smolcic at right-back, Jacobo Ramon and Marc-Oliver Kempf as the central defensive pairing, and Alex Valle operating at left-back.
In midfield, Maximo Perrone and Lucas Da Cunha are likely to form the double pivot, tasked with screening the defence and progressing possession through central areas. Further forward, Mergim Vojvoda is expected to start on the right wing, with Martin Baturina operating in the central attacking midfield role.
Jesus Rodriguez is projected to feature on the left flank, providing width and direct running. Up front, Anastasios Douvikas is the probable choice as the lone striker, charged with stretching Juventus’s reshuffled defence and capitalising on transitional opportunities.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Butez; Smolcic, Ramon, Kempf, Valle; Perrone, Da Cunha; Vojvoda, Baturina, Rodriguez; Douvikas
Key Stats
- Juventus are unbeaten at home in Serie A this season and have not lost a league match in Turin for nearly 12 months.
- The Bianconeri sit just one point outside the top four heading into this round.
- Como defeated Juventus 2–0 in their previous meeting earlier this season, their first league win over Juve since 1951.
- Como have collected 19 away points in Serie A this campaign and remain unbeaten on the road in the current calendar year.
- Juventus have conceded seven goals across their last two matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Kenan Yildiz
Kenan Yildiz could be the decisive figure in Turin, particularly with Juventus navigating injuries and suspension issues in attack. The Turkish forward has developed into one of the Bianconeri’s most dynamic attacking outlets, combining intelligent movement with sharp ball-carrying ability.
Operating between the lines, Yildiz is adept at drifting into half-spaces, linking midfield to attack and accelerating play in transition. His willingness to shoot from range, placing him among Serie A’s most active shot-takers, makes him a constant threat, especially against a Como defence that can be compact but vulnerable to quick combinations around the box.
With Juventus seeking a response after their European setback, much of their attacking spark may rest on Yildiz’s creativity and composure in the final third.
Prediction
Juventus 2-1 Como 1907
Juventus enter this fixture under pressure after a bruising European defeat, but their domestic home record remains a powerful foundation. The Allianz Stadium has been a fortress in Serie A, and with top-four qualification hanging in the balance, urgency should sharpen their performance.
Como’s away form and tactical organisation suggest they will not be overwhelmed. Even without Nico Paz, they possess enough structure and discipline to frustrate for long stretches. However, Juventus’s need for redemption, combined with their superior depth and individual quality, should ultimately tilt the balance. Expect a competitive contest, but one where the hosts reassert control late on.
